Dear colleagues,
At least from 1974, we know there are several species under the name
Capitella capitata. Over 30 yr after that, we still have been unable to
clarify the taxonomic composition of our most famous pollution indicator.
Despite its current importance in benthic ecology, and its potential
relevance in invasive species biology, we continue to see publications
dealing with sps, Roman numerals, alphabetic lettering, or city names after
the genus name, often without any details on morphology.
A search in GoogleScholar results in over 2,000 hits for Capitella, and over
6,600 for Nereis, in comparison with about 400 for Syllis. However, the
latter two have much less taxonomic problems, and the previously regarded
different populations have been separated as distinct species by morphology,
ecology, reproductive biology, or a combination of them.
Therefore, at the same time that I apologize for asking our
Capitella-colleagues to redirect their research, I encourage them to
concentrate efforts in two main activities. First, follow Linda Warren who
moved from capitellid ecology to taxonomy, and solve the taxonomic confusion
by designating and depositing a neotype for C. capitata, revising and
reinstating the available names, and introducing new ones whenever needed.
Second, make a team effort to produce a revision on Capitella's ecology,
trying to organize the information by geographic region, reproductive
pattern, or any other means such that any future comparison would be richer
and sounder. The end products of these two efforts will be much appreciated
and useful, and will be welcome in specialized journals such as Zootaxa and
the Annual Review series.
Sure, our current situation might be far from optimal, and this deserves
more enthusiasm. Let’s try to find graduate students to do this, or let’s
hope our colleagues already dealing with the group, manage to find some time
for these actions.
Un abrazo,
